On Friday, Feb. 21, Washburn Wind Ensemble and Percussion Ensemble performed at White Concert Hall from 7:30-9:00 p.m. This concert was a fusion of two performances, beginning with the WU Wind Ensemble and followed by the WU Percussion Ensemble.
Anya Pogorelova, director of bands and assistant professor of music, opened the event by explaining that the WU Wind Ensemble concert was held as part of the ensemble’s preparation for their upcoming performance at the Kansas Music Educators Association’s in-service workshop next week. The wind ensemble will have exactly 35 minutes on stage in Wichita, from the moment they walk on to when they leave, so they aimed to recreate that experience as closely as possible during this performance.
Cameron Arnold, senior music education and music performance major, explained his approach to preparing for the concert.
“We have to prepare by ourselves, first getting our part learned and taking a look at all of our stuff, making sure we’re doing good stuff, analyzing the music like the score or listening to the music as well on YouTube or Spotify and other things like that,” Arnold said. “And then we bring it all together for a full rehearsal. And then we can start learning it together, how all those different parts fit together. And then once we do that, we can start cleaning it up. And then before you know it, here we are putting on a full show.”
Arnold has performed in both wind ensemble and percussion ensemble and explains the differences between the two.
“A percussion performance, much the same thing as wind ensemble, if not more important, because with wind ensemble, there’s a lot of people, I think we’re like 30-35, maybe 40 people,” Arnold said. “But with the percussion ensemble and all of those pieces that we just did, it was like, four people, five people … so your part becomes even more important because it’s a lot more exposed.”
When someone is unsure of what they’re doing, it affects a close-knit group relying on their contribution. In a wind ensemble, if everyone knows their part except one person, the group can still function with 34 out of 35 doing their job. However, in a percussion ensemble, if three out of four are performing their part, it becomes a much bigger issue because 25% of what’s needed is missing.
Rashawn Alford, freshman music education major, shared the inspiration behind his decision to specialize in percussion and the techniques he employs to prepare for a percussion performance.
“I was inspired kind of by my middle school teacher because she majored in percussion and she was still listening to this day, an incredible musician,” Alford said.“I do a whole ritual where I lint roll my entire suit jacket and then always wear my Sega balance man pin to every concert, no matter the occasion.”
Emma Tams, freshman secondary history education major and clarinetist, expressed how music has influenced her life and also shared her approach to preparing for a concert.
“I’ve never gotten to play music at such a high level before, and when I’m on stage playing music it just brings me joy and I’m glad I’m still doing music,” Tams said.
The Washburn department of music is holding scholarship auditions. To schedule an audition or for further information call 785-670-1511 or email them.
Edited by Jeremy Ford and Stuti Khadka
